Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія
Chapter IV
Areyoukeepinganythingfromme?Tellmewhatitallmeans.Oh,whyareyougetting—these?”
Shecaughthisarm,lookingwithintenseeagernessintohisface.Shehalfunderstoodalready.Annixtersawthat.
“Well,”hesaid,lamely,“YOUknow—itmaynotcometoanythingatall,butyouknow—well,thisLeagueofours—supposetheRailroadtriestojumpQuienSabeorLosMuertosoranyoftheotherranches—wemadeupourminds—theLeaguershave—thatwewouldn’tletit.That’sall.”
“AndIthought,”criedHilma,drawingbackfearfullyfromthecaseofrifles,“andIthoughtitwasaweddingpresent.”
Andthatwastheirhome-coming,theendoftheirbridaltrip.Throughtheterrorofthenight,echoingwithpistolshots,throughthatsceneofrobberyandmurder,intothisatmosphereofalarms,aman-huntorganising,armedhorsemensilhouettedagainstthehorizons,casesofrifleswhereweddingpresentsshouldhavebeen,Annixterbroughthisyoungwifetobemistressofahomehemightatanymomentbecalledupontodefendwithhislife.
Thedayspassed.Soonaweekhadgoneby.MagnusDerrickandOstermanreturnedfromthecitywithoutanydefiniteideaastotheCorporation’splans.Lymanhadbeenreticent.HeknewnothingastotheprogressofthelandcasesinWashington.Therewasnonews.TheExecutiveCommitteeoftheLeagueheldaperfunctorymeetingatLosMuertosatwhichnothingbutroutinebusinesswastransacted.
